And thats why this is the best forum on the net! So Wildrose, what should I do after I buy the 700. I know some of my decisions arent "ideal" but I cant help my wants! I would like a "trued" 700 action (and if I could get that bolt fluted that would be cool), sitting in a Mcmillan A-5 Stock (with adjustable cheekpiece and sandbag hook) and for the tube I'd Like to have a 26" Rem Varmint/sendero contoured SS barrel chambered in .260 (which is my favorite caliber behind the .338) and finally id like to stick a suppressor/brake (even though I shouldnt need one), and dont forget about a timney/jewel trigger set around 2lbs.

So what should I do first after I buy the 700? Should I get the action trued? or Go ahead and send my action to Kreiger? Or order the stock? I am new at this so thanks for your patience.

__________________"...I shoot big cartridges, not because I am ego bound, not because they are needed to kill big game when well placed shots are made, but when an error is made, they will get you out of trouble more often then a lesser round."

Considered a Savage action? I've done a lot of research recently. I'm a college kid looking to get into shooting and found a deal I can't pass up. Trophy Hunter XP in .260 for $500. Selling the Nikon BDC 3-9 Prostaff included for $150, bringing my cost down to $350 for a Savage action with Accutrigger. Not a bad start. You could probbaly get away with the Accutrigger for a while, screw in barrels you can have done cheaply or do yourself. Any stock you want. Some say the Savage is a better value than the 700. I can see why. Savage is 2nd to the 700 in customization and accessories. 2nd, but a very close 2nd.

I agree definitely! Savage is reallllllly coming up in the world! The 700 I am buying is the complete rifle and i am buying from a guy who desperately needs the cash. The barrel has less than 20 rounds through it and I may try and sell it on ebay or something.. its in amazing shape. I would sell it for about 100 bucks. Also the Hogue stock thats on it.. id only ask like 50 for it.. and if I can sell those two things I would only be paying about 350 out of pocket. He is also throwing in a pair of rings/bases that I could possibly sale to a buddy for about 20-30 bucks. I just want the action because for a remington action.. its EXTREMELY SMOOTH. I was so supprised! But if you have a chance to go with that savage GO FOR IT!

__________________"...I shoot big cartridges, not because I am ego bound, not because they are needed to kill big game when well placed shots are made, but when an error is made, they will get you out of trouble more often then a lesser round."

I agree definitely! Savage is reallllllly coming up in the world! The 700 I am buying is the complete rifle and i am buying from a guy who desperately needs the cash. The barrel has less than 20 rounds through it and I may try and sell it on ebay or something.. its in amazing shape. I would sell it for about 100 bucks. Also the Hogue stock thats on it.. id only ask like 50 for it.. and if I can sell those two things I would only be paying about 350 out of pocket. He is also throwing in a pair of rings/bases that I could possibly sale to a buddy for about 20-30 bucks. I just want the action because for a remington action.. its EXTREMELY SMOOTH. I was so supprised! But if you have a chance to go with that savage GO FOR IT!

I mean.. i dont have any custom rifles. I have never done this before. I know alittle about the process, but not much. As soon as he told me that he was selling a 700 for 500 I immediately asked him to see the action! I didnt care to much about the barrel, the caliber, the stock, blah blah lol He said, "I am selling a remington 700 for 500$" but what I heard is "CODY THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO START YOUR FIRST CUSTOM BUILD WITH A MINT ACTION AND A DECENT PRICE" lol

I just reallyyy want to get started!

__________________"...I shoot big cartridges, not because I am ego bound, not because they are needed to kill big game when well placed shots are made, but when an error is made, they will get you out of trouble more often then a lesser round."

If it were me I'd send it into Krieger or lilja, have them true it up and put you a 26-28" barrel on it with either a sendero or light varmint contour if you're going to have to pack it around much.

Then worry about saving up your money for the stock of your dreams. Give those precision stock works stocks a look too.

The tacticool look impresses people at the shooting range but they are not as ergonomic and practical for hunting as a stock that truly is made for the hunter.

I'm probably going to go ahead and have at least two of my latest acquisitions put in their stocks, one M-70 stainless 300wm and one M-700CDL SF in .264wm.

If my wife actually figures out how much I've spent on rifles and accessories this year I may be in big trouble but stocks will be going up after the first of the year so if I can scrape it up I'll go ahead with at least two of them.

EDTA: I'd still go with the original suggestion of shooting this one as is, maybe go ahead and put it in a better stock since .308 Ammo is so abundant and cheap. If you manage to burn this barrel up along the way, by the time you get there your proficiency should be such that you won't even feel the need to shoot much once you have the new .260 barrel installed and broken in.

__________________Without the First and Second Amendments the rest of The Constitution is Meaningless.

So that's 3435.00 including the purchase of the rifle and you would still be shooting by looking down the barrel like a 1930s shot gun, so after all that, may as well count on a grand or more for glass. Typically full customs minus a custom action will be well over 4k, so don't let everyone give you the idea that this is cheap or not a big deal, but "do it right, do it once!"